Gardiner boyd



(No Model.)

G. BOYD.

GAP. GOUPLING.`

Patented Aug. 12, 1884..

Figl.

U? ypo UNITED STATES Parenti* einen@ GARDINER BOYD, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

CAR-COUPLING.

JPECFICATIOJN forming part of Letters Patent No. 303,486, dated August l2, 1884. Application filed January Q, 1884. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GARDINER BOYD, of the city of Toronto, in the county of York, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, gentleman, have invented a certain new and useful Self-Acting Car-Coupler; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

The object of the invention is to dev'ise a simple, cheap, and effective car-coupler, capable of being used in connection with an ordinary non-self-acting car-coupler; and it consists, essentially, of a peculiarly-shaped bellmouthed draw-head provided with a rubber block, or its equivalent, for holding the coupling-link horizontally, and a coupling-pin having one of its sides beveled near the end, so as to form that portion of the pin like the bolt of an ordinary spring-latch, in order that a horizontal blow from the end of the couplinglink shall force the pin in an upward direction to permit the link to pass, all being constructed and arranged substantially as hereinafter eX- plained.

Figure l is a perspective view showing two draw-heads forming my improved self-acting car-coupler, a portion of one of the heads being cut away to expose the interior construction. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3'is a detail of coupling- 4 is a detail of coupling-link.

I am aware that various self-acting eareouplers have been designed'prior to my invention, and that some of the features elnbodied in my invention have been used separately in car-couplers differently constructed. Owing to the combination of old parts and the special construction of each as adopted in my improved ear-coupler, I have succeeded in producing an effective and practical self-acting car-coupler, where others with somewhat pin. Fig.

Y similar parts have failed.

In the drawings like letters of reference indieate corresponding parts in each ligure, and in referring to one part on a single draw-head it will be understood that a corresponding part on the other draw-head will be found.

A is the lower lip of the bell-mouthed drawhead. This lip, it will be noticed, extends on a gradual incline to a point near the shoulder a. Between the -shoulder c andthe end of the incline a. recess or hole, b, is formed to permit the pointed end of the coupling-pin B to project below the top surface of the lip A, but it is not intended that the coupling-pin B shall come in contact with thelower portion of the draw-head, the entire strain caused by the draft being directed against the upper portion, C, of the draw-head, which portion is constructed specially strong for the purpose of resisting the strain. The coupling-pin B has a longitudinal slot, c, made in it, through which slot a pin, d, passes. This pin is riveted to the upper portion, C, of the drawhead, and in passing through the slot c permits the free vertical movement of the pin for a sufficient distance' without allowing it to j ump out of its bearing. By this arrangement the coupling-pin can always be depended upon to be in position, and the/loss to which railroads are now subjected will thus be prevented. It will be noticed that the front edge or" the coupling-pin B is beveled off toward the point of the pin, so as to leave a beveled edge, against which the horizontal couplinglink D will strike as it enters the draw-head. Consequently the pin B will, through the action ofthe lilik, be forced upwardly; but owing to the weight of the pin it will fall into the link immediately that the end of the link has passed it.

E is a rubber block inserted between the shoulder aand the end of the draw-head shank F. This rubber block Ehas a recess, e, formed to receive the end of the link D, when the said link is set into the drawhead,for the purpose of being directed toward the draw-head, with which it is to be coupled. This recessed rubber block, while being sufficiently stron g to support the link in a horizontal position, must besufficiently elastic to permit the link to adjust itselfslightly whensubjected toany undue strain. For instance, should the end of the link being guided into the draw-head come in contact with one side of the bell-mouth, the rubber block will not prevent the link D moving sufiiciently to admit of it entering the narrow neck of the draw-head, -where it will come in contact with the beveled end of the coupling-pin B.

While I prefer Ya rubber block of the deseription shown, it will of course be understood that a steel spring might be arranged to aecomplishthe same purpose. It Will be noticed that the draw-head proper is bolted to the drawhead shank F, which shank extends into the said draw-head, as indicated. Should it become neeessaryto remove the rubber block E, it is merely necessary to withdraw the drawhead from 4the shank, when the said block may be readily adjusted.

I do not show any means for uneouplingmy improved self-acting car-coupler, as any ot the Well-known means may beadopted. Acrankrod connected to the top end ot' the pin and extending to either side ofthe ear might readily be arranged, or a rod extending to the top ofthe car might easily be connected to the end of the pin. Vhen the link D is inserted into the recess in the rubber block E,the end of thelink must necessarily be some distance away from the pin,and as the distance from the end of the link to the pin would cause too much slack, I provide near one end ofthe link a cross-bar, g, rigidly fastened to l(he sides of the link, and designed to withstand the strain of the draft, the said bar coming in contact with the pin at that end of the link which is supported by the block. 5

In order to protect the recess e, in the rubber block E, a metal lining, h, should beinserted.

That I claim as my invention is- 1. In an improved self-acting car-coupler7 a l draw-head having a bell-mouth end, the iui elined lower lip of which extends to a point where the interior diameter of the draw-head is increased,in combination with the draw-head shank F, connected to the draw-head, as speciiied, and a rubber block E, fitted into the drawhead between the end of the draw-head shank F and the shoulder a, formed by the enlargement of the interior diameter of the drawhcad, the said rubber block having` a recess, b, formed in it for the reception ofthe coupling-link, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a self-acting car-coupler havinga bellmouth end and a recessed rubber block, E, in-

serted in it, a coupling-pin, B, having its front edge beveled toward the point, in combination with vthe coupling-link D, provided with a cross-bar, g, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A draw-head provided with a beveled coupling-pin, B, liavinga longitudinal slot, c, for the passage of the pin d, in combination with the link D, provided with a cross-bar, g, and fitti ng in the recess, e, formed in the rubber block E, substantially as and for the purpose speeiiied.`

Toronto, December 20, 1883.

GARDINER BOYD.

In presence ol" C. C. BnLnWrN, F. EARNA'RD FnrimnsfronimUGH. 

